Farming, Gardening & Homesteading

Discussion in 'Survival and Wilderness Skills' started by Delkancott, Dec 1, 2016.

  1. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    Is that a chicken tractor setup?

    Do you fill the freezer with the broilers after 8 weeks?

    This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but alas, stuck in the city :(
     
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  2. Shepherd

    Shepherd Member

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    Yes that's what they call a chicken tractor. Movable pen.
    Here are some pics of our equip.
    Scalding pot
    Killing cones
    8 week old birds
    Plucker
    Butcher table
    Birds dressed out about 6 - 7 lbs.
    I needed to split the group into 2 tractors at 5-6 weeks because they were too crowded.
     

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    Last edited: Jul 21, 2019
  3. Bushman5

    Bushman5 Member

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    so thats about 80lb's of meat every 8 weeks or so? thats impressive.

    roughly what does it cost per bird for that 8 weeks?

    I'm looking at a single chicken breast at the local market here....and its $7 and i'm shaking my head......
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2019
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  4. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Adding fresh nutrients to the garden from the bottom of a 20yr old debris pile
    IMG_20190723_190322.jpg
     
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  5. Shepherd

    Shepherd Member

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    So I figure 3 lbs feed per lb of gain.
    Chicks $1.25 ea
    Non gmo feed at $20.00 / 50 lb.
    I think we have about $9.65 per bird
    Figuring a 7 lb dressed out weight.
    This doesn't enclose my labor or equipment cost. We did this for family's freezer.
     
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  6. IW17

    IW17 Member

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    About half the blackberries I just picked off our two bushes. I'd say by the end of the week we won't know what to do with them all.

    IMG_20190728_190724.jpg
     
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  7. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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  8. IW17

    IW17 Member

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    Anyone here familiar with blackberry bushes? I've got two thornless blackberry bushes growing in my yard. I looked up how to trim them in early spring to maximize their yield, and honestly it's worked out great so far. However there are several large branches growing wild, that are honestly getting in the way. They have zero berries, and haven't flowered. Are these suckers? I've read that suckers should be cut back since they rob the plant of nutrients that would otherwise be used for the main plant that's producing. But I'm very new to this and don't want to do something that's detrimental to either the plant or to future yields. Any help?

    IMG_20190805_182244.jpg IMG_20190805_182250.jpg
     
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  9. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    I think those are next years growth or so im told. Could be wrong.
     
  10. IW17

    IW17 Member

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    That's what I was thinking as well, but I'm just not experienced enough yet to know. If that's the case, I'll have to figure something out for next year. They're completely blocking off the stairs. I'll need to figure out a way to keep them growing out towards the years and away from the bar. Push comes to shove I'll just remove them and plant new bushes somewhere with less traffic. I hate to do it, as these are established and producing lots of blackberries.
     
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  11. Strigidae

    Strigidae Administrator Staff Member

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    If that area is as small as the picture shows it may be better to get strawberries to plant there. Our black berry bushes get huge and can take over about a 5-6 foot area. We dont have the thorn less so i cant comment on them.
     
  12. Shepherd

    Shepherd Member

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    They may be new runners and won't produce till the 2nd year. Much like wild black Berry's if you mow them off they grow back but no fruit till 2nd year. What you may do is route those runners out in the lawn . Bury a portion of the runner and it should root there . Then you can dig up that new root/plant and relocate it or sell them for $5.00 / copy and do it again.
     
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  13. Delkancott

    Delkancott Member

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    Primocanes Vs floricanes. Most non-everbearing brambles flower on second year growth.
     
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  14. IW17

    IW17 Member

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    I was actually considering something like that. We didn't plant these so it was sort of an inherited problem.

    Do I cut the runners and bury them, or just adjust the direction that they grow?
     
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  15. Shepherd

    Shepherd Member

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    Say the runner is 3 ft long.
    Put a 3 -6 in section 2 in in the ground .
    This section should be active and growing (about a 12 in from the end).
    Don't cut the runner it just lays on the ground. Dips down in the ground and lays an top again.
     
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  16. IW17

    IW17 Member

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    Nice thank you I'll do that.
     
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  17. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Today's harvest
    IMG_20190808_122735.jpg
    Tilled most of the garden today, getting the soil ready for the fall planting
    IMG_20190808_141813.jpg
    IMG_20190808_141743.jpg
    IMG_20190808_141709.jpg
     
  18. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    New layout in the garden
    IMG_20191003_180037.jpg
    IMG_20191003_175913.jpg
     
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  19. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Adding more soil from the debri pile to the new growing beds
    IMG_20191005_144520.jpg
     
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  20. STPNWLF

    STPNWLF Member

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    Pineapples doing well
    IMG_20191006_162808.jpg
     
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